Envelope machine



Oct. 4, 193s. A. NOVICK 2, ,7

ENVELOPE MACHINE Original Filed May 21, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 11v VEN TOR. Abra/2am NOV/Ck.

ATTORNEYS.

A. NOV] C K ENVELOPE MACHINE Oct. 4, 1938.

Original Filed May 21, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 g J: 1% E INVEN TOR. Abra/7am Nor/ck. Mqfiwlk' ATTORNEYS.

Oc t. 4, 1938. A. NOVICK ENVELCSPE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 21, 1935 m w H; mm m@ H TI; m c Q INVENTOR. Abra/7am Nor/ck.

ATTORNEYS.

A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MACHINE Oct. 4, 1938.

Original Filed May 21, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 s HFE M INVENTOR: Abraham Ivor/ck.

A TTORNEYS.

A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MACHINE Oct. 4, 1938.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 21, 1935 ms & Q Q 5 5 5 v5 w wt INVENTOR. Arm/7am Nov/ck.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct; 4, 1938 UNITED. STATES ENVELOPE MACHINE 7 Abraham Novick, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to F. L. Smiths Machine 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 21, 1935, Serial No. 22,527. Re

newed November 20, 1937.

26 C'laims.

is then thrust past a transverse' severing cutterwhich cuts individual blanks from the leading endof the web. The individual blanks are. then advanced more rapidly to bottoming mechanism which scores, gums, folds and irons the bottom flaps. 'The finished envelopes are then carried forward by grippers and dropped onto a transverse conveyor which carries them inoverlapped relation away from the operating instrumentalities. he I It is desirable that the machine be adapted for making envelopes of various sizes andthatthe rate of productionof envelopes be the same inde-' pendently of the size of the envelopes which are being produced. Since a longer envelope requires more web material, provision is made for increasing the rate of web feed or for diminishing it in proportion to the length of blank used for making an envelope. This is a simple matter of gear changing and results in the web being ad-- vanced at a new uniform speed. The mechanism for notching the web, however, is required to make one revolution for each blank length of web which passes it and hence it isrequired to operate at a uniform average speed regardless of the speed of web feeding. This means, however, that the average speed of the notching cutter is for all envelope sizes but one. Provision is accordingly made for driving the notching. cutter at variable speed sothat it may be caused to travel in unison with the web throughout the substantial part of each revolution during which the cutter engages the Web.

One longitudinal margin of thenotched web is run between a gumming roller or'disc and a cooperating pressing roller and, since this margin has already been notched before it reaches'the gumming roller, provision is made for intermittently lifting the pressing roller to cause it" to jump the notches. In this Way the application of gum to the pressing roller is. avoided. The

55 mechanism for control operation of the pressing different from the rate of linear feed of the web In Canada. April 23,

roller is made adjustable so that the interval of separation may be made to correspond in period and duration with the requirements of the par: ticular work being done. v

A further feature of the invention has to do with means for breaking the engagement of the Web margin with the gummingv roller just before a notch edge is reached; the purpose being to avoid applying gum right up to the edge of the blank and also to overcome the tendency of the gumming roller to adhere to the Web margin and carry the margin down out of the plane of web feeding.

V The web is next drawn through folding mechanism of conventional construction and is thrust to a transverse rotary cutter which acts to sever envelope blanks from the web.

With reference to the transverse cutter a problem is involved which is similar to that affecting the notching cutters and provision is, therefore, made for driving the transverse cutter at variable speed. In this instance, however, it is only necessary for the transverse cutter to move in unison with the web at the instant of web severance so that a simpler form of feeding mechanism may beutilized.

After a blank has been severed from the web, it is advanced more rapidly than the web so that the blanks are caused to reach the subsequent operating instrumentalities in spaced out relation. One feature of the present invention has to do with the means whereby transfer to the faster feeding means is effected. To this end provision is madeofa fast feeding couple comprising separable feeding elements one of which is held away from the other so that the web may be thrust forward between them until the moment of severance. ,At the moment of severance the feeding couple. becomes" effective to seize the severed blank and advance it quickly to other 1 feeding mechanism Which operates at the same speed. H T

Since the blanks may be varied in length pro-a vision must be made for taking care of the varying extents to which the web is caused to pass the transverse cutter prior to severance. The trailing edge of'ablank would be properly timed with reference to the subsequent operating instrumentalities without adjustment but since it .is the leading edge which is primarily to be operated upon by the subsequent instrumentalities therevis variation and provision is accordingly made for adjustment to time the subsequent instrumentalities tothe arrivalof the leading ends of the blanks. To this end it is a feature that a gear interposed in the driving train of the bottom plate gumming and folding mechanism and of the gripper conveyor which carries the envelopes from such mechanism is made adjustable in phase to simultaneously effect a phase adjustment of all of the parts driven through it.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the introductory end of an envelope machine embodying features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and forms a continuation of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partly broken away, which shows substantially the same part of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a view showing the back of an envelope made upon the present machine and in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in sectional side elevation on a larger scale than the preceding figures, and illustrates particularly the notching and transverse cutters, the View being broken away intermediate its ends for compactness of illustration;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating particularly the transverse cutter, the immediately following feeding mechanism, and the drive therefor.

A web is drawn from a reel 2 around guide rollers 3 and 4 by cooperating feed rollers 5 and 6. The feed rollers 5 and 6 are constantly effective and operate at uniform speed for any selected length of blank. After passing the guide roller 4 the web passes between a bed roller 1 and a notching cutter 8, the latter comprising cutting knives 9. The knives 9 are set into cylinders I which do not engage the web or at least not with sufficient force to effect the feeding thereof. Each cylinder H] is fast upon a shaft H which has a bore Ila therethrough in communication with a source of suction. The bore I la communicates with the surfaces of the cylinders through radial passages l2 which are disposed between the blades 9. When the blades cut a chip from the web the suction holds the chip to the cylinder l0 causing it to be carried around with the cylinder and away from the web. Paddle wheels |3 rotate at higher speed than the cylinders H) in close proximity thereto and are effective to blow and knock the chips off of the cylinders and cause them to fall down a chute |4 into a waste receptacle l5. The suction is cut off just when the chip reaches a position to be knocked away by a blade of the paddle wheel and is reapplied at about the time when the passage I2 comes opposite the bed roller 1. The suction may be accurately controlled, notwithstanding the variable rate at which the cylinder I0 is operated, by means of cooperating valve plates, one fixed upon the shaft H and the other stationary and mounted in juxtaposition to the first.

The machine is driven from a main shaft US which rotates counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 5. A pinion fast on the shaft l6 drives a gear l9 fast on a shaft I9. The gear l8 meshes with a pinion 2| mounted on a shaft 22 carried by an adjustable arm 23. The arm 23 is rockably mounted upon the shaft l9 and is provided with a handle 24 and with an arcuate slot 25, the slot being concentric with the axis of the shaft l9. A threaded stud 26 fixed on a stationary part of the machine frame extends through the slot 25, and

a nut 21 is threaded on the stud. The arm 23 may be locked in adjusted position by turning the nut 21 on the stud 26 to tighten the nut into clamping engagement with the arm, and it may be released for adjustment by turning the nut 21 in the opposite direction. The pinion 2| has a hub 28 upon which a gear 29 is removably secured as by a set screw 30 threaded in a hub 30a of said gear. The gear 29 meshes with a gear 3| fast upon a shaft 32 of feed roller so that the described train is effective to drive the feed roller 5 at predetermined speed. Meshing pinions 33 and 34 upon the shaft 32 and upon the shaft 36 of feed roller 6 cause the roller 6 to be driven in unison with the roller 5. With the setting illustrated in Fig. 5 the web will be driven at a predetermined uniform speed. When it is desired to make envelopes of a different length, however, it is necessary to change the rate of feed of the Web. When it is desired to increase the rate of web feed the arm 23 is adjusted downward and a larger gear is substituted for the gear 29, and when it is desired to reduce the speed a smaller gear is substituted with corresponding adjustment of the arm. The pinion2| always remains in place and since it is mounted upon a shaft carried by the arm 23 and the arm 23 is mounted upon the shaft IQ of the gear l8 the pinion 2| is always held in proper mesh with the gear H3. The notching cutter is unaffected by the substitution of a new gear for the gear 29. The shaft |9 has fast upon it a sprocket 36a which, through a chain 36, drives a sprocket 31' mounted upon a shaft 38. A gear 39 fast on the shaft 38 drives a gear 40, and the gear 40 in turn drives at uniform speed a gear 4| having secured thereto an internal gear Ma. The gear 4| is rotatably mounted upon the end of shaft II by a hub 4|b said shaft having the notching cutter and a gear 43 fast upon it. Motion is transmitted from the gear 4| to the gear 43 through a pair of pinions 44 and the gear 4|. The pinions 44 are mounted upon a rocker 45 which is fast on a shaft 46, Fig. 3, coaxial with the shaft M. So long as the pinions 44 are not permitted to move bodily the gear 43 is rotated at uniform speed by them. I

In order to introduce a desired variation of speed, however, the shaft 43 is provided with a crank arm 47 which carries a cam follower 48. A track cam 49 fast on the shaft 40a acts at the appropriate time in each revolution to turn the rocker 45 so as to change the speed of the notching cutter to the speed of the web and maintain it atthat speed throughout the period of engagement of the notching cutter with the web. The cam 49 is slidingly keyed to the shaft 43a and is held to the shaft by a nut 59 so that it may be readily removed from the shaft and replaced by I a cam of different contour whenever the gear 29 is changed to change the uniform speed of the web. The variable speed operating means in the notching cutter which has just been described is disclosed and claimed in my application Serial No. 692,553, filed October 7, 1933, noW matured into Patent No. 2,060,821, patented November 17, 1936, for Manufacture of envelopes, bags, etc.

After passing the notching cutter the web travels over a gumming disc 5| which engages a margin of the notched web near a longitudinal edge thereof. The gumming disc. 5| runs in a gum pot 52. A pressing roller 53 cooperates with the gumming disc to assure contact of the web with the gumming disc. The pressing roller 53 is a channeled roller and the channel of the roller is disposed opposite the gumming disc so as to avoid contact of the roller with theidisc when no web is present.

The margin of the web whichruns over the gumming roller has already had notches cutin it and, aside'from the possibility of gumbeing accidently transferred from the gumming disc to the pressing roller, it is desirable'that contact of the web with the gumming disc be broken a little before a notch edge is reached and that it be reestablished a little after the trailing notch edge has passed the effective part of the gumming disc. I i

To this end provision is made of an arm 54 fast on a rock shaft 55 for carrying the pressing roller 53. The arm 54 also serves through a bracket 56 fast upon it to carry a web lifting plate or shoe 51. The plate 51 is slotted to receive the disc 5! and extends beneath the margin of the web, being supported from outside the lateral bounds of the web. I

The shaft has fast upon it a crank 58 which carries a cam follower 59 for lifting and lowering the roller 53 and the plate 5]. The cam follower 59 is spring pressed and runs upon a roller 60 fast upon a shaft 6!, and upon a pair of cam plates Bland .63 on the shaft 6|. One of the plates 63 is fixed in position by means of a bolt 64 extending through it and threaded into an end of the roller 69. The bolt 64 also passes through an arcuate slot 65 in the'plate 62. The plate 62 is loose on theshaft 6| and may be ad- 'justed and then fixed inpl'ace by tightening of the bolt 64, so as to adjust the period during which the roller 53 and the plate 51 are held up. The shaft 5! is driven at the same rotaryspeed asthe shaft 411a, or in other words it makes one revolution for eachrevolution of the notching cutters. The lifting of the roller 53and the plate 5'! not only leaves the notched edges free of gum,

which isto be desired, but it also serves to overcome the tendency of the web margin to adhere -to the gumming disc 5| and prevent its being drawn by'the gumming disc downward out of the plane of web feeding.

After passing the gumming disc 5lthe web travels on a table 65 through a side folding mechanism 61 which may be of conventional construe;- tion and which comprises laterally adjustable folding plates 63. a

The web passes thence between the web feeding rollers 3 and 6 and to the severing cutter.

The shaft 32 of the feed roller 5 carries a sprocket 3211, Fig. 2, through which the gumming roller 5! and the feed roller 3 are driven. As a consequence the changing of the gear 29 produces a corresponding change in the speed of the gumming disc, causing it to run at a peripheral speed slightly greater than the speed of the web, and in the speed of the feed roller 3, causing it to run at a speed slightly greater than the speed of the Web. The sprocket 32a acts through a chain 32b to drive a sprocket 32c fast on a shaft 320'). The shaft 32d also has fast upon it a sprocket 326 which, through a chain 32 drives a sprocket 5la, Fig. 1, fast on the shaft 5lb of the gummingdisc 5B. A second sprocket 5lc fast on the shaft 511) acts through a chain 5Id to drive a sprocket Elle fast on a Shaftilf; A gear Big fast on the shaft 5| f acts through a gear 5th fast on the shaft of the feed roller 3 for drivingsaid feed roller.

The gear ratios are such that the roller 3 always tends to feed the web I a little faster than the feed rollers5 and diced the web. It will'be observed, however, [that the instant any slack is produced in the web the roller 3 will loseits frictional grip upon the web andbe'come temporarily ineffective. The roller 3, therefore, serves asa means for'dr'awing the web off the reel 2 and for supplying it to the operating instrumentalities free from excessive tension, but at the same time it constitutes an automatic means for avoiding the over supplying of web'to such instrumentalities, the webitself operating, in effect, as a slip clutch;

The severing cutter comprises astraight cutting blade 69 for cooperating with a bed roller 69a, the blade being carried 'bya roller 10 fast on a shaft H As has been mentioned the severing cutter makes one revolution for each revolution of the notching cutter regardless of the speed of web feeding, and provision is made for driving the severing cutter at variable speed so that it will be traveling at the speed of the web at the instant of contact with the web. The shaft H has fast upon it a crank arm 13 which carries a roller '74. The shaft H is driven from a gear 15 through the crank arm 13 and through a plate 16 which is mounted on the gear shaft to be angularly adjusted relative to the gear and then be fixed to the gear. The plate 16 has a diametrical slot or channel for receiving the roller M. The gear I5 is mounted on a sleeve portion of the plate 16, said sleeve portion being journalled on a stub shaft H of an arm 18. The roller-'10, together with the blade 69, may be adjusted in its phase relation to the other parts by loosening a set screw 12 which holds the gear 15 fast to the plate 16. The adjustments are effected for different blank lengths.

The arm 78 is freely mounted upon the main drive shaft ES. The axis of the shaft 1'! may be set intocoincid'ence with the axis of the shaft II, in which case uniform motion is imparted to the severing cutter. Adjustment of the arm 78 to locate the axis of the shaft H in any other posivariation depending upon the amount of separation'of the axes of the shafts H and 11. The

gear i5 is driven from a gear 19 fast on the shaft lfithrough a gear 80 which is carried by the arm [8. The arm, when adjusted, carries the gears 15 and 80 with it aboutthe axis of the gear 19 so that the proper meshing of-the gears is in no way impaired. The arm 18 is provided with an arcuate slot through which a threaded stud 82 extends. The arm may be adjusted with reference to an index, not shown, and is fixed in adjusted position by means of a clamping nut 83 which may be turned on the threaded stud 82 to clamp or release the arm as desired.

As has been pointed out the feeding mechanism which follows the transverse cutter operates to so as to cause the leading end of the Web to pass it prior to blank severance. Since this blank feeding means, however, operates at higher speed than the feed rollers 5 and 6 provision is made to hold it ineffective until the instant of blank severance and then to make it immediately effective. Theifirst blank feeding means comprises a feed roll 86 and cooperative feed sectors 85 mounted' respectively upon shafts 86 and 8'! which have meshing gears 88 and 89 fast upon them. The gear: 88 is driven from the main drive shaft I6 through gears 90, SI and 92 the gear ratios being such that the. sector 85 makes two revolutions for each revolution of the severing cutter. This arrangement of relative speed permits the disc 85 and the roller 84 to be made of small enough diameter to enable the parts to be arranged compactly, a feature of some importance in view of desirability for arranging the blank feeding means close to one another. The gear 89 is secured to the shaft 81 by a set screw 89a to permit phase adjustment of the sectors 85.

The purpose of the feeding sectors is to take control of the blank which would be rendered idle by severance and immediately advance it to other blank feeding means operating at the same speed as the sectorswhich are in continuously operative condition. It is not necessary, however, for the sectors to effect any very extensive advance of the blank.

The sectors are, therefore, made to extend through substantially 180 so that it may serve to advance the blank for approximately a half revolution. Since the sector is required to be effective only in that portion of its cycle which immediately follows the severance of blank and since it would be objectionable for it to be effective at any other time provision is made for rendering it ineffective at all times except when its operation is required.

To this end provision is made of a cam I92 fast upon the shaft H of the severing cutter 69. This cam has a cutout portion preceding and following the knife 69. Acam following roller 93 engages the cam, the roller being carried by a crank 94 fast upon a rock shaft 95. The rock shaft 95 also has fast upon it cranks 96 which are at opposite sides of the machine and which are provided with upwardly facing sockets 91 at their outer ends for receiving the lower ends of thrust rods 98. The upper ends of the thrust rods 98 extend into downwardly facing sockets formed on rocker arms 99 in which the shaft 81 is journalled. The rocker arms 99 are mounted on coaxial pivot pins I00. Whenever the high part of the cam 92 engages the cam follower 93 the rocker arms 99 are held upward and serve to hold the sector 85 away from blank engaging position. The lift is very slight, however, so that the gears 88 and 89 continue to mesh with one another, the rotation of the sector being continuous and uniform.

Prior to the arrival of the knife 69 in position to sever a blank the follower 93 rides off the high part of the cam- 92, permitting the rocker arms 99 to drop down. The rocker arms are provided with adjustable screws ml which engage abutment plungers I02 mounted in fixed parts of the frame. The plungers I02 have cap or head portions which rest on the frame and which are engaged by the screw ends. The parts are so adjusted that the sector is supported in proper cooperative relation to the feed roller 84 when the screws IOI rest on the plungers I02, notwithstanding the fact that the sector is in an inoperative phase of its cycle at the time when the rocker arms 99 are lower. The rocker arms having been lowered as described, the sector is in condition to seize and advance the blank as soon as its feeding surface comes opposite the roller 84. The parts are timed to cause this to occur just at the instant when a blank is severed.

The feeding members 84 and 85 are of rather soft material and it is desirable to leave them disengaged over night to prevent them from taking on a deformed shape. For this purpose provision is made of a shaft I03 mounted in the machine frame which has a flattened side for engaging the lower end of a plunger I02. The shafts I03, one at each side of the machine, are each provided with an operating handle I04. In the normal position of the shaft, as seen in Fig. 6, the lower side of the head of the plunger I02 rests upon the machine frame. When it is desired to disengage the segment 85 from the feed roller 84 at the end of the day the shaft which is provided with a flat spot, is turned and cams the plunger upward until the plunger rests upon a concentric part of the surface of the shaft. The plunger acts against the screw IOI to lift a rocker arm and cause it to hold the sector up.

The next blank feeding means comprises a pair of feed rollers I05 and I06 which operate at the same peripheral speed as the sector 85. The feed rollers I05 and I06 are mounted on shafts I01 and I08 which carry meshing gears I09 and N0, the last mentioned gear being driven by the gear 90 through gear 9|. When blanks are being out which are not long enough to reach from the severing cutter to the bight of the rollers I05 and I the rollers I and I06 are permitted to run continuously in engagement with one another and the function of the sector 85 and the feed roller 84 is then to advance a blank into the bight of the rollers I05 and I06. If the blanks are of greater length, however, it is necessary to incapacitate the rollers I05 and I06, in which case the roller 84 and the sector 85 advance the longer blank to a subsequent pair of feed rollers I I I and I I2 which run substantially continuously in engagement with one another. The shaft I01 of roller I05 is carried in rocker arms 990 which may be the same in construction as the rocker arms 99 and which may be lifted by mechanism which is a duplicate of the lifting handle I04 and the parts associated therewith. Corresponding reference numerals have accordingly been applied to the corresponding parts with the subscript (1" added in each instance.

After passing rollers I 05 and I06 the blank reaches the rollers III and H2. The roller II2 carries a cross scoring blade II3. Since these rollers also make two revolutions for each revolution of the severing cutter, it would be objectionable to have the scoring blade engage the blank at every revolution and provision is accordingly made to lift the roller III briefly at alternate revolutions. To this end the shaft H4 of roller III is journalled in rocker arms 9% which are adapted to be lifted automatically by cranks 96b fast on a shaft 95b. The lifting train and the parts mounted on and associated with the rocker arm are the same as those described with reference to rocker arm 99. The same reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts, therefore, with the subscript b added.

A crank II5 fast on the rock shaft 951) carries a roller II6 which runs upon a cam Ill. The cam II! is fast on a shaft H8 which is driven through gears H9 and I20 at half the angular speed of the rollers III and H2. The cam has a high part IIS which serves to lift the roller III once in every alternate revolution at the time when the blade I I 3 is opposite the roller I I2.

The rollers II I and H2 are driven from the gear IIO through a gear I20 and through gears I2I and I22 fast on the shafts I23 and H4 of the rollers. The gear I2I is secured to the shaft I23 by means of a set screw I24 which may be backed out to release the gear from driving engagement with the shaft and permit phase adjustment of the knife II3 relative to the other operating parts. The rocker arms 9% are also equipped with overnight throwout means of the same kind described with reference to rocker arms 99. The same reference numerals have, therefore, been applied to corresponding parts with the subscript by: added" v The blank passes from the rollers III and H2 to a pair of bottoming cylinders I25 and 126. The'cylinder I26 is fast on the shaft H8 and the cylinder I25 is fast on a shaft I21. The shafts H8 and I21 have meshing gears I28 and I29 fast upon them for driving the shaft I21 from the shaft H8. The gear I28 is driven by a gear I26a pinned to a shaft I3I. Said shaft has secured thereto by a set screw I32 another gear I261) which is drivenby the gear 99. When readjustment of the phase relation of the cylinders I25 and I26 relative to the other operating partsis required they may be adjusted inunison by temporarily releasing the set screw I32 and then tightening it again after the desired adjustment has been made.

The bottoming cylinders and the subsequent conveying mechanism are the same as the corresponding parts shown and described in my pending application Serial #701,948, filed December 12, 1933, for Envelope or bag making machinery. A brief description of these parts will, therefore, sufiice. The cylinder I25 has fixed upon it a bar I38 which pivotally and yieldingly supports a tucking bar I39. The cylinder I25 also includes two adjustable segments I49 which may be fixed in various adjusted relations to the main portion of the cylinder by means of bolts and slots. A bar I 43 is mounted in a'radial slot formed in the segment I40 and is movable toward and from the center of the cylinder. A gummer bar I is mounted upon the bar I43. An actuating arm I46 is secured to a shaft mounted upon the segments I49 said shaft having forked arms (not shown) for oscillating the bar I43 toward and from the axis of the cylinder I25. The actuating arm I46 is cam operated. oscillatory movement is imparted to the bar I43 for the purpose of projecting the gumming bar I45 beyond the periphery of the cylinder I25 at an appropriate point in the cycle to receive gum from a gum roller I59, which roller stands clear of the surface of the cylinder so as not to apply the gum thereto, and for retracting the gumming bar to a position substantially flush with the feeding surface of the cylinder I25 for engagement with the blank upon the periphery of thecylinder I26.

The cylinders I25 and I26 are so related that the tucking bar I39 acts to tucka leading end portion of the blank between fixed and movable jaws I51 and I52. The jaw I5I is a fixed part of the cylinder I26 while the jaw I52 is carried upon a rock shaft I53, which shaft is cam operated to open position and spring operated to closed position.

When the blank has been tucked and gripped between the jaws I5I and I52 it is carried forward by the cylinder I26, and the gumming bar I45 is caused to apply gum to a portion of the blank body which is tobe covered by the blank flap I66. In the continued forward movement of the cylinder I26 the flap I60 is carried against a stationary folding plate I 6I to fold said flap against the body. The flap then passes beneath said plate I6I and is pressed lightly against the gummed face of the blank body. b

After this has been accomplished, it is desirable to iron down the folded over flap and to convey theblanks bodily away from the cylinder I26 in order that they may be delivered in an orderly relation to one another. Provision is made of a conveyor mechanism I62 which serves both to cooperate with the cylinderIZB in ironing down the folded flap and to conduct the blanks away from the cylinder I26 and deliver them in a predetermined relation to one another. The conveyor mechanism I62 comprises a pair of chains I63 which run upon sprockets I64 and I65 and which are connected with one another by rigid bars I66. The bars I66 present outer faces whicharegenerally in the form of cylinder segments and which are adapted to cooperate with the cylinder I26 in ironing down the folded envelope end. Each bar also has pivotally mounted upon it gripper jaws I61. The gripper jaws I61 associated witheach barI66 are secured to a common rock shaft I61a and are controlled by cams I 68 and I69, engaged by arms 61b to be secured to the rock shaft, the cams I68 being secured to end plates I68a of an auxiliary frame, and being effective to cause the gripper jaws to approach the cylinder I26 in an open condition. A return spring (not shown) causes the gripper jaws to close onto the leading end of the blank after'such leading end has been fed between the gripper jaws I61 and the bar I66. The cam I68 is so shaped that the jaws I61 are not permitted to snap sharply against the bag material. This is a desirable construction since it prevents injury to materials such as Cellophane that might be damaged by a blow. The cross bars I66 occur along the conveyor at intervals equal in extent to the circumference of the cy1-' inder I26, and the conveyor is driven at a linear speed equal to the peripheral speed of the cylinder I26.

A cam acts to operate the gripper jaws I52 to an open position as the leading end of the blank nears the point at which it is transferred to the bar I66 and the gripper jaws I61; Stripper fingers I10 run in grooves I1I of the cylinder I26 and serve to intercept the leading end of the blank and to deflect it away from the periphery of the cylinder I26. The deflecting fingers I19 are mounted upon a shaft I12a supported by arms I12 carried by a rockable shaft 13. The arms I12 are normally held in position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a spring and stop (not shown), but may be swung downward to afford access to the other parts when desired.

The shaft I14, upon which the sprockets I64 are mounted, also has fast upon it a series of notched disks I15 which coact with the cylinder I26 in guiding and feeding the blank. The notches I15a of the discs I15 are so located and timed that they provide grooves for the bars I66 when the bars travel around the axis of the sprockets I64. I

As viewed in Fig. 2 the cylinder I 26 rotates in a clockwise direction and the sprockets I64 in a counter-clockwise direction. The blanks are accordingly carried away from the cylinder I26 in the lower stretch of the conveyor I62. A series of rods I16 forms a table for supporting the depending trailing ends of the blanks. The blanks are carried forward over guides I11 and above a transverse conveyor I18. The blanks are released and permitted to drop down away from the conveyor I62 when the gripper jaws I61 are moved to open positions by the cam I69. Stripper fingers 19 assist in separating the leading end of the'blank from the cross bar, the Cross .bar being grooved to accommodatesaid fingers. The transverse conveyor I18 runs upon pulleys one of which is driven through reducing gearing to run at a slower speed than the conveyor I62. The blanks are accordingly carried away in overlapped relation.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at one of a variety of optional speeds, a notching cutter, means for driving the notching cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the notching cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web throughout the substantial portion of the cycle during which it engages the web, means for folding the web longitudinally, a severing cutter, means for driving the severing cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the severing cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web while in engagement with the web, the web feeding means being arranged to draw the web past the notching cutter and the folding means and to thrust it past the severing cutter, blank feeding means for seizing the severed blanks and advancing them at higher speed than the speed of web feeding, and means adjustable to cause the blank feeding means to become effective substantially simultaneously with the severance of a blank.

2. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at one of a variety of optional speeds, a notching cutter, means for driving the notching cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the notching cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web throughout the substantial portion of the cycle during which it engages the web, means for folding the Web longitudinally, a severing cutter, means for driving the severing cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the severing cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web while in engagement with the web, the web feeding means being arranged to draw the web past the notching cutter and the folding means and to thrust it past the severing cutter, blank feeding means for seizing the severed blanks and advancing them at higher speed than the speed of web feeding, and means for adjusting the blank feeding means to change the amount to which the web can extend in advance of the point of severance without being seized and pulled forward by the blank feeding means.

3. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at a selected speed, a notching cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web throughout the substantial period of its engagement with the web, means for folding the web longitudinally, a severing cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web at the instant of web engagement, blank feeding means for seizing a severed blank and advancing it at higher speed than the rate of web feeding, and means for controlling the blank advancing means to hold the same ineffective until a blank has been severed.

4. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at a selected speed, a notching cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web throughout the substantial period of its engagement with the web, means for folding the web longitudinally, a severing cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web at the instant of web engagement, blank feeding means for seizing a severed blank and advancing it at higher speed than the rate of web feeding, and means for controlling the blank advancing means to hold the same ineffective until a blank has been severed, said controlling means being mounted to operate in unison with the severing cutter.

5. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at a selected speed, anotching cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web throughout the substantial period of its engagement with the web, means for holding the web longitudinally, a severing cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web at the instant of web engagement, blank feeding means for seizing a severed blank and advancing it at higher speed than the rate of web feeding, and means for controlling the blank advancing means to hold the same ineffective until a blank has been severed, and cooperative bottoming cylinders to which the blanks are fed, said cylinders including means for gumming and folding the envelope bottoms.

6. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at a selected speed, a notching cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web throughout the substantial period of its engagement with the web, means for folding the web longitudinally, a severing cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web at the instant of web engagement, blank feeding means for seizing a severed blank and advancing it at higher speed than the rate of web feeding, means for controlling the blank advancing means to hold the same ineffective until a blank has been severed, cooperative bottoming cylinders to which the blanks are fed, said cylinders including means for gumming and folding the envelope bottoms, and means for adjusting the phase of the cylinders relative to the other parts of the machine.

7. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at a selected speed, a notching cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web throughout the substantial period of its engagement with the web, means for folding the Web longitudinally, a severing cutter operating at uniform frequency but at variable speed so that it runs in unison with the web at the instant of web engagement, blank feeding means for seizing a severed blank and advancing it at higher speed than the rate of web feeding, means for controlling the blank advancing means to hold the same ineffective until a blank has been severed, cooperative bottoming cylinders to which the blanks are fed, said cylinders including means for gumming and folding the envelope bottoms, and means for simultaneously adjusting the phase of the cylinders relative to the other parts of the machine.

8. In an envelope making machine, the combination with web feeding means for advancing a web uniformly at a selected speed, of a severing cutter operating at predetermined frequency to sever blanks from the web, the length of a blank being controlledby the speed of web feeding, blank feeding means effective to seize a severed blank and advance it more rapidly than the web, and means for holding the blank feeding means ineffective until after a blank is severed.

9. In an envelope making machine, the combination with web feeding means for advancing a web uniformly at a selected speed, of a severing cutter operating at predetermined frequency to sever blanks from the web, the length of a blank being controlled by the speed of web feeding, blank feeding means effective toseize a severed blank and advance it more rapidly than the web, and means for holding the blank feeding means ineffective until after a blank is severed, said means for holding the blank feeding means ineffective being controlled from the severing means and timed to cause the blank feeding means to becomeeffective simultaneously with the severing of a blank.

10. In an envelope making machine, the combination with web feeding means for advancing a web uniformlyat a selected speed, of a severing cutter operating at predetermined frequency to sever blanks from the web, the length of a blank being controlled by the speed of web feeding, blank feeding means effective to seize a severed blank and advance it more rapidly than the web, and means for holding the blank feeding means ineffective until after a blank is severed, additional blank feeding means operating at the speed of the first blank feeding means, said additional blank feeding means including provision for ad justment to alter the extent to which the web may I pass the severing cutter without being affected by said additional blank feeding means.

11. In an envelope machine, the combination with a cutting roller and a cutting knife carried by the roller and adapted to engage and operate upon a web at intervals in the rotation of said roller, a coacting roller against which the cutting knife operates, and means for'driving said cutting knife roller comprising a variable speed gearing whereby the speed of said knife during the period of engagement with the web may be varied without varying the period of its rotation, said means comprising a pivot arm'having a slot therein concentric with the pivot of the arm, means'extending through the slot for securing the arm in any desired position, a rotary member rotatably mounted on the arm and adapted to be supported by the arm in a position concentric with the center'of the cutting roller or in positions eccentric thereto and having a diametric face groove, acrank arm secured to the cutting roller, and a roller carried by the crank arm and engaging the diametric groove.

12. In an envelope machine, the combination with web cutting rollers, of blank feeding rollers, and means for separating the blank feeding rollers apart during *the web cutting operation and for engaging the-blank feeding rollers to carry the cut blank away from the web.

13. In an envelope "machine, the combination with web cutting rollers, of blank feeding rollers, means for holding the blank feeding rollers apart to permit the web to pass freely between them prior to the web cutting operation and for percut blanks away from the web, such means comprising a cam revolving with vthe'cutting rollers, arocln'ng rod pivotally supported .on the main frame, upwardly movable bearing members for the blank feeding roller, means operated by the cam for rocking the rod, and means for raising the bearing members by the rocking of the rod.

14. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for feeding a web, means for cutting notches in side margins of the web, the longitudinal continuity of the web being still maintained, a gummer for applying gum to a'margin of said continuous Web after the same has been notched, a presser for holding the web margin against the gummer, and means for lifting the presser away from the gummer intermittently in time with the arrival of the notches, said various means being co-ordinated in a unitary machine structure.

15. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for feeding a web, means for cutting notches in side margins of the web, the longitudinal continuity of the webbeing still maintained, a gummer for applying gum to a margin of said continuous web after the same has been notched,-a presser for holding the web margin against the gummer, and means for lifting the presser and the web" away from the gummer a little before a notch reaches the gummer and for lowering the presser and the web toward the gummer a little after the notch has passed the gummer, said various means being co-ordinated in a unitary machine structure.

16. In an envelope machine, in combination, means for feeding a web, means for cutting notches in side margins of the web, a gummer for applying gum to a margin after the same has been notched, a presser for holding the web margin against the gummer, and means for lifting the presser and the web away from the gummer a little before a notch reaches the gummer and for lowering the presser and the web toward the gummer a little after the notch has passedthe gummer, said lifting means being adjustable to determine the duration of the lifting operation.

17. In an envelope machine, in combination,

means for feeding a web, means for cutting notches in side margins of the web, a gummer for applying gumtoa margin after the same has been notched, a presser for holding the web margin against the gummer, and means for liftmg the presser and the web away from the gummer a little before a notch reaches the gummer and for lowering the presser and the web toward the gummer a little after the notch has passed the gummer, said lifting means being adjustable to determine the duration of the lifting operatiom-and comprising a cam composed of relatively adjustable overlapping sections.

18. In an envelope machine, in combination, a main feed roller for feeding a web uniformly at a selected speed, a feed roll driving gear, a main a selected speed, a main shaft, operating instr mentalities driven from the main shaft, a changeable operating train running from the main shaft to the main feed rollers for operatingthem and including means for facilitating gear substitution to change the speed of the main feed roller, a gumming disc running in engagement with the web, an unreeling feed roller frictionally driving the web, and means for driving the gumming disc and the unreeling roller through said changeable train whereby the speeds of the main feed roller, the gumming disc and the unreeling roller are always uniformly related.

20. In an envelope machine, in combination, a web supply reel, main feed rollers for feeding a web, an auxiliary unreeling roller interposed between the reel and the main feed rollers for relieving the web of tension, said unreeling roller running in frictional engagement with the web, and means for driving the unreeling roller and the main feed roller, the former at a little greater peripheral speed than the latter.

21. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at one of a variety of optional speeds, a notching cutter, means for driving the notching cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the notching cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web throughout the substantial portion of the cycle during which it engages the web, a severing cutter, means for driving the severing cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the severing cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web while in engagement with the web, the web feeding means being arranged to draw the web past the notching cutter and to thrust it past the severing cutter, and blank feeding means for seizing and advancing the severed blanks.

22. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a Web uniformly at one of a variety of optional speeds, a notching cutter, means for driving the notching cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the notching cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web throughout the substantial portion of the cycle during which it engages the web, means for folding the web longitudinally, a severing cutter, means for driving the serving cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the severing cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web while in engagement with the web, the web feeding means being arranged to draw the web past the notching cutter and the folding means and to thrust it past the severing cutter, and blank feeding means for seizing and advancing the severed blanks.

23. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at one of a variety of optional speeds, a notching cutter means for driving the notching cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the notching cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web throughout the substantial portion of the cycle during which it engages the web, a severing cutter, means for driving the severing cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the severing cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate'at the speed of the web while in engagement with the web, the web feeding means being arranged to draw the web past the notching cutter and to thrust it past the severing cutter, and blank feeding means for seizing the severed blanks and advancing them at higher speed than the speed of web feeding.

24. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at one of a variety of optional speeds, a notching cutter means for driving the notching cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the notching cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web throughout the substantial portion of the cycle during which it engages the web, a severing cutter, means for driving the severing cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the severing cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web while in engagement with the web, the web feedingmeans being arranged to draw the web past the notching cutter, and to thrust it past the severing cutter, blank feeding means for seizing the severed blanks and advancing them at higher speed than the speed of the web feeding, and means adjustable to cause the blank feeding means to become effective substantially simultaneously with the severance of a blank.

25. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at one of a variety of optional speeds, a notching cutter means for driving the notching cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the Web, means for varying the speed of the notching cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web throughout the substantial portion of the cycle during which it engages the web, a severing cutter, means for driving the severing cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the severing cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web while in engagement with the web, the web feeding means being arranged to draw the web past the notching cutter and to thrust it past the severing cutter, blank feeding means for seizing the severed blank, and means adjustable to cause the blank feeding means to become effective substantially simultaneously with the severance of a blank.

26. In an envelope making machine, in combination, means for feeding a web uniformly at one of a variety of optional speeds, a notching cutter means for driving the notching cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the notching cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web throughout the substantial portion of the cycle during which it engages the web, means for folding the web longitudinally, a severing cutter, means for driving the severing cutter at predetermined frequency independently of the speed of the web, means for varying the speed of the severing cutter in a cycle to cause it to operate at the speed of the web while in engagement with the web, the web feeding means being arranged to draw the web past the notching cutter and the folding means and .to thrust it past the severing cutter, and blank feeding means for seizing the severled blanks and advancing them at higher speed than the speed of web feeding.

- ABRAHAM NOVICK. 

